敌

敵

dí

攵 + 舌

Definitions

dí (noun) enemy; opponent

dí (verb) to rival; to match; to resist

Etymology

Simplified form of 敵. Phonosemantic compound. 攵 represents the meaning and 啻 represents the sound.

Semantic: 攵 Phonetic: 啇

About

敌 is the simplified form of the traditional character 敵, a phonosemantic compound. The right side retains the action radical 攵, which depicts a hand holding a striking weapon and conveys the meaning of forceful attack or conflict. In the traditional form, the left side was the phonetic 啻, providing the sound. The simplification replaced it with 舌, drastically reducing the stroke count. The character's core meanings are an adversary, a personal enemy, opposing military force, or rival in competition, and the act of matching or resisting someone in combat.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们有敌人。

Wǒ men yǒu dí rén.

We have enemies.

敌机在空中飞行。

Dí jī zài kōng zhōng fēi xíng.

Enemy aircraft are flying in the sky.

他对我们怀有敌意。

Tā duì wǒ men huái yǒu dí yì.

He harbors hostility towards us.

两国处于敌对状态。

Liǎng guó chǔ yú dí duì zhuàng tài.

The two countries are in a state of hostility.

士兵们正在侦察敌情。

Shì bīng men zhèng zài zhēn chá dí qíng.

The soldiers are scouting the enemy situation.

在比赛中，他遇到了强大的敌手。

Zài bǐ sài zhōng, tā yù dào le qiáng dà de dí shǒu.

In the competition, he encountered a powerful opponent.

尽管有敌视的态度，他们还是进行了对话。

Jǐn guǎn yǒu dí shì de tài dù, tā men hái shì jìn xíng le duì huà.

Despite the hostile attitude, they still held a dialogue.

为了战胜敌人，我们必须团结一致。

Wèi le zhàn shèng dí rén, wǒ men bì xū tuán jié yī zhì.

In order to defeat the enemy, we must unite as one.

Related Characters

Component: 攵

Component: 舌

敌